Browse Classifieds etc.

Browse Best of SLO

Dan Burrell - Mid-State Fair Security Supervisor

NEW TIMES: How long have been the Mid-State Fair Security Supervisor, and how did you first get involved?

BURRELL: I’ve been doing this for 19 years now. When I first moved into town I came to the fair for the first time and it was just amazing to me… the people, the excitement. I wanted to be a part of it, so I applied for a job in security and got it. After working for about three years I became the Security Supervisor.

NEW TIMES: What’s the biggest security problem you see at the fair?

BURRELL: We have this area that’s sometimes packed with over 20,000 people. Trying to maintain some sort of peace with that many people in such a small place… you have to be on your toes and have a lot of security people. And we have the Paso PD and the Sheriff’s Department and the Highway Patrol Department all working with us. There’s always something, and you’ve just got to deal with it.

NEW TIMES: Has security become more of an issue over the years?

BURRELL: I would venture to say no, because we have the same amount of space. People change, naturally. The kids, the teenagers – they’re not like they were 20 years ago. They’re a little more forward. On the whole, though, it’s pretty good.